Costa Rica 3 – USA 1: Quick Thoughts

With Michael Bradley pine-bound with an ice wrap on an ankle injured just moments before the game, the US took the field in San Jose, Costa Rica Friday in a somewhat traditional 4-4-2 with Geoff Cameron deputizing for the Roma man in central midfield.

Jozy Altidore was either not ready or held out, Landon Donovan entered and paired Clint Dempsey up top. Another change was Michael Orozco Fiscal at right fullback. The Fiscal plays rightback for his club, but has been almost exclusively featured as a centerback when in a US shirt.

Costa Rica came out in an extremely aggressive formation.

The Ticos deployed in a 3-4-3. The Ticos had not played a 3-man backline at home in more than a year, but it wasn’t the formation that was most telling. It was the personnel deployment that should have forewarned the US precisely what was to transpire upon the opening kick.

Bryan Ruiz was right central, Cristian Bolanos left central, both playing inverted. Alvaro Saborio was sacrificed for Joel Campbell, the change bringing much more pace to the striker role.

The personnel deployment should’ve screamed, “We’re coming! With numbers!” With both forwards inverted and a speedy striker looking to not play hold-up, but split the Yanks’ centerbacks, plenty of space would be created wide for the wingbacks to bomb up the pitch as they did.

One should give a bit of reprieve to Klinsmann and his staff to the insertion of Orozco-Fiscal. The move was probably with the intention that the US would maintain some semblance of possession with Michael Bradley hubbing the central midfield.

Whereas Bradley’s play off Jones to begin games is a little more piston-like, the insertion of Geoff Cameron meant a more traditional CDM role for the States. With Bradley out, Jermaine Jones needed to be more disciplined on defense and calm in possession. However, with Costa Rica pushing as many as five players attacking through the midfield, the US essentially countered with no more than four. Per Sun Tzo, “the battle was won before it was ever fought.”

Initiative, home field advantage, and speed conspired with the tactics to make the first 22 minutes a nightmare for the States.

Jones forward movement–ill-advised by this publication’s estimation–forced Graham Zusi and Fabian Johnson to pinch in to help track runners, further opening the flanks. Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey stayed high–perhaps too high–and were marooned without service. It took 12 minutes for Jones to drop deeper to support possession and aid the defense and took another five for Dempsey and Donovan to drop and help out–entirely too long without the US’s best midfielder policing the center of the pitch.

Bradley’s absence–after his sterling positional play against Bosnia–could not have been more felt.

More:

» The US sees three of their players on yellow card alert pick up a second and who will now miss the Mexico game in Columbus–Cameron, Matt Besler, and Jozy Altidore. Altidore’s yellow is inexcusable–both the nature of it and because the attack would’ve been built around him in Columbus.

» This was an unacceptable game for Jermaine Jones. No American player is going to replicate the balance of Michael Bradley. That said, it was Jones’s responsibility as senior man in the middle to understand the dip in midfield integrity against an aggressive Costa Rica side. Instead, Jones–who should’ve helped drive the US tempo–made it worse.

The Schalke man played bewildering long balls when he could’ve slowed the tempo, was often irresponsible in his own defensive positioning and failed to track back on counters–this from player held up on pedestal by Jurgen Klinsmann for his dedication and effort. With Jones pairing Cameron more as a true double-pivot and being more responsible with his decision-making, the US could have reduced the number of chances Costa Rica took in the first 35 minutes. When Jones settled, so did the US.

» Klinsmann and his staff probably should’ve made some initial adjustments once Bradley was ruled out, but you get the sense that by selecting Orozco-Fiscal at RB and playing no target striker that the manager thought his squad could maintain possession in the first half. That said, the onfield adjustments came extremely too slow as the challenge to the US midfield was all too clear.

» Strong game from Landon Donovan–and a ding on TSG for suggesting he not start this one. The US had four key passes completed by the stats and Landon had all of them.

» The fifth key pass could’ve been tabulated for Graham Zusi who put Fabian Johnson in on goal, forcing a penalty by the Costa Rican keeper Navas. It was not the best game from Zusi who wasn’t sharp and found himself often hesitant when deciding when to track a runner centrally or stay wide with an advancing wingback.

» The US could’ve used a few saves out of Tim Howard tonight. Calls that the US keeper is not big time ignore Howard’s stellar games in real pressure-cookers against Spain at the Confederation’s Cup or England at the World Cup. Howard made some tremendous saves likely with a major rib injury in that Three Lions game.

Tonight however was not textbook from Howard and the problem is it’s the same challenges that Howard has faced lately in his club career: failing to come out on over-the-top balls and indecision on service into the box. Guzan is in form now, but Klinsmann seems to favor the experience of Howard.

Goalkeepers are a different breed though. They’re a little bit like catches in baseball. Sure a keeper may not be able throw a runner out, but maybe his game calls flummox the other team’s hitters. It will be interesting to see how Klinsmann and staff review the position.

—

Review: Keys To The Game For The Americans:

1) Defense: Apply on-ball pressure whenever Costa Rica is in the US half. Recover that second ball.

Grade: C

Costa Rica repeatedly attacked–as expected–down the left flank. With numbers forward, the US defenders had to concede space often because there would be no help defense. Too much space, as Omar Gonzalez gives on the second goal, leads to good chances and, in turn, goals.

2) Defense: Track Ruiz and Campbell between the lines. Immediately support any 1v1 defender who is out in space

GRADE: B-

TSG GRADE: C

Costa Rica was UHHHH-ggressive. A little Bayern Munich like in that they attacked with fervor with no fear of losing the ball knowing they would hustle to get behind the ball and win it back–at least for the first 35 minutes. TSG expected a little slower pace; the US was challenged getting support to defenders in space because they were too many Ticos advancing in attack.

3) Have fun Offense: Get Zusi opportunities on the deep right flank. Don’t be wasteful with corner kicks and deep flank service chances.

GRADE: N/A

TSG GRADE: F

The US never gain possession in the 1st half and when they did in the 2nd Costa Rica drew the line of confrontation at the top of the attacking third and wide–not huddled in the box. The US made the correct substitutions as the game progressed but with a need to press for the equalizer attempting to circulate the ball went out the windor. There would not be a lot of deep service opportunities on the night.

4) Offense: Work the channels with Zusi, Landon Donovan and Fabian Johnson.

GRADE: B

When the US did get ahead in the second half, Landon Donovan did some work. But it was not enough.

—

When any team loses a critical central midfielder moments before kick-off and falls behind by two goals in less than 15 minutes, it’s going to be a long night. It was. A single negative observation tonight against a string of positive ones. Tuesday will be illuminating.

Like this:

LikeLoading...

Related

37 responses to this post.

Fixed it) We were cocky and our over confidence from top to bottom, Head Coach to benchwarmer was rewarded with a reminder of the talent level we really are at. Is Guzan the shot stopper Howard is because he certainly could not be worse on making line decisions. Also last goal- very stoppable.

I think Howard’s major blunder came on the second goal. It was a slow movnig lofted cross to the top of the goal box. Go get that one! Navas punched that one late and nearly killed EJ (who retarded the attack by taking too much time on the ball)near the penalty spot.

The US had/has enough talent to win this game. They are at least as talented as Costa Rica. Few if any national teams are great enough to win on the basis of superior talent alone.

US fans are not giving enough credit to CR for taking advantage of the loss of Bradley to build up a lead. The US players and management should have done a better job of adapting to Mikey’s loss but still should have at least tied the game. They were unlucky.
The other thing is this team is built to attack not defend so giving up that third goal was almost predictable.

This game showed that the depth we’ve been hearing so much about is largely illusory.

Drop-offs from Bradley and Altidore are huge. It was excruciating watching E Johnson receive the ball in a dangerous position and send it 20 yards back to where it came from when the opportunity was there to play somebody through.

Opinions from a lot of the media and fans about Klinnsmann and his staff seem to fluctuate like weather fronts. He was not on a Super hot streak tactically the last matches, nor is he completely tactically blind. This is why I like this site; balanced even keel analysis without the histrionics elsewhere. I think Klinnsmann sometimes has a penchant for coming out in most situations with the same mantra that “we are going to take it too them in all situations” and doesn’t consider telling Jones or Orozco to stay smart/conservative in the face of overloaded opposition numbers.

“I think Klinnsmann sometimes has a penchant for coming out in most situations with the same mantra that “we are going to take it too them in all situations” and doesn’t consider telling Jones or Orozco to stay smart/conservative in the face of overloaded opposition numbers”

In the first place, defense is a team thing not one or two guys.

And yes he does have that penchant.

You should not be surprised because everyone wanted an attacking crazy team and JK is giving you all a team with a bombs away mentality.

I suspect that is because most of the best US talent is offensively oriented. That would be Bradley, Dempsey, Donovan, Jozy, Jones, Dolo, FJ, AJ, EJ etc., etc.; while at this point our defensively oriented players like all of center backs and fullbacks, as defenders, are journeyman level or worse.

Being offensively oriented is one way to cover for that.

Since everyone here loves US sports analogies, this team’s philosophy is more like the Grizzlies, the Pacers or the Bulls, not the Nuggets , Rockets or OKC.

Or put another way, JK blitzes because his personnel in the secondary is not very good. A great pass rush is one good way to help out your crummy, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties.

Matt, your humility elides the most important change that should have been made after Bradley’s injury: TSG fav Beckerman paired with Jones in midfield, Cameron at right back. Given how Zusi’s poor defense hurt an already defensively weak ride side, I would have gone with Landon at right mid, Dempsey in the center, and Johnson at forward. Klinsi’s pregame mantra–Klinsi does matras, not edicts ; ) –should have been to play slowly in the first fifteen. Squelch Costa Rican passion with slow, easy possession, easier with loads of safe Beckerman square balls, and slowly ramp up the attack around the twentieth minute.

Tactical questions:
Mexico match seems like the one where we may say “the best defense is a strong offense.” We possess and pin Mexico back, Mexico doesn’t have a chance to create more opportunities.

With that in mind a few ponderings:

1) Do we move Fabian Johnson back to RB. Opens space for Donovan to play LM. Then a combo of Zusi and FJ can pin back Salcido.

2) AJ or EJ at striker? Do we value AJ testing the line and keeping the CB/defensive line back to open space for a withdrawn Dempsey or can EJ play passable holdup play and allow us to flood the zone? If Bradley is green lighted I think I would prefer AJ if we can keep passes on the ground. Maybe someone more tactically sound can chime in. (Demps with Donovan withdrawn is still an option but unsure whether JK appraises Parkhurst’s fitness/ability to play at this level highly).

3) Will Bradley rise again? Real problems if not. If so could see Beckerman in to interfere with Dos Santos in-cuts.

After such a depressing night I thought I should add that the highlight is I hear my sister’s room mate made $3452 dollar in one night via the internet…..

Egads, that was ugly, but a good lesson to be learned, games are won on the field and not in the press. We must be harder & hungrier. We needed a target forward to stretch the field & maintain possession sometimes at least, I love Clint but that’s not his forte, nor Donovan’s. And JJ was too crap, trying to do too much again. Jozy’s yellow ws like my kid getting yelled at for shoving on the classroom line to get ice cream, I’m c’mon man.
Anyway not much tactical discussion on my part,( I guess I’m like the Klins here) but this was a throwaway result, look and learn at it but don’t stare. We have been successfull and we need to get back on track, call me crazy but I look forward to seeing Mixx in the midfield in Columbus with Bedoya at RW. the hard part is who do we put up top? It would be really ballsy to through the ICEman out there, with Clint off his shoulder(left side), with Donovan as the marauding mid,
Anyhow I have rambled on too much, off to see my kid’s soccer game to try not to yell at the coach!

Just read on SI.com that Chepo was fired this morning for Mexico. That leaves two possibilities. The Mexican National Team becomes fired up and plays lights out for their new coach or they become mired in a further state of confusion. Yikes…

Just a reminder that the sky is not falling. If the US beats Mexico in Fortress Columbus and Honduras wins at home against Panama, we’re officially in. As bad off as we might think we are because we’ll be without Bradley, Jozy, Besler and Cameron, we have pretty good answers for replacing them. I’d much rather be in our shoes than backs-against-the-wall Mexico. Controlling possession without Bradley will be challenging but I believe Jones will rise to the occasion and step up his game. I’m sure everyone was unnerved when Bradley was a late scratch but Klinsmann and Co. will have ample time to figure out a game plan for Tuesday. Funny, but I’m usually the glass half-empty type.

I think you can chalk last night up to the coaching staff (and most of the XI) being relatively inexperienced with away qualifiers in CONCACAF.

Obviously hindsight is 20/20, but Costa Rica at home in a WCQ is going to come at you guns blazing right from the opening whistle. I don’t care if you’ve been on a 12 game win streak or a 100 game win streak, you shouldn’t ignore history when building a game plan. Everyone in the US camp should have been thinking defense first ESPECIALLY for the first portion of each half. Absorb some pressure and try to catch CR on the counterattack. When CR eases up on the reigns then you start trying to play.

I had soooooo many reservations when I first saw the US team sheet, but the biggest thing that jumped out at me was the lack of a striker. Dempsey, as clinical as he can be in front of goal, is not a center forward- at least not in the traditional sense. Eddie Johnson would have been perfect for last night. A big strong body that can bang with CR’s CBs and stretch the defense with his speed. The US badly needed that in the first half, if for no other reason than to chase down balls over the top.

Later when I heard that Cameron and Beckerman were warming up after MB’s injury I thought that Klinsmann would drop Orozco for Cameron and slot Beckerman into MF. Wishful thinking.

Let’s hope JK & co. get it right on Tuesday night. We could be seeing a crazy desperate Mexico squad that plays with nothing to lose.

In Costa Rica trying to stay up for my 3 am departure to the airport. 8 he layover in Miami before Columbus. Depressed reading more about the game and with Bradley ruled out. Sick from drinking too much. I need a hug. At least the Costa Rican fans weren’t as nasty as the Mexican fans.

Put me in the I hope Brooks starts vs Mexico camp. I do not want to see orozco and gonzo or Goodwin and gonzo

MB90 was changing clubs, and leagues and was trying to recover from a rough spell after the Villa fiasco left him rusty and out of work.

JK not calling him in gave Mikey a chance to get comfortable at Chievo and then focus on giving it his best effort.

You might have noticed that Mikey had just been basically kicked out of BMG and then basically jerked around by Villa leaving him in professional limbo. My guess is that Italy gave him a chance to re-align his bearings.

Have you ever been fired, like two times in a year? Because that is what happened to Mikey.

JK not calling in MB90 had the added benefit of giving people like you a chance to miss him and realize that hey maybe the Nepotism kid was actually one of the US’ better players.

When JK finally called him back in, Mikey had had time to get very comfortable in Italy and brought some newly developed consistency and discipline to his USMNT performances.

You might have noticed the same basic thing happened to Donovan.

JK has never been averse to risky behavior and sometimes that pans out. Also he is not quite the idiot you think he is.
.

I’m not exactly sure how you could read my comment, and then come to the conclusion that I would ever be a proponent of the “nepotism” argument (in fact my point was the exact opposite), or somehow recognize his talent only after JK stopped playing him. I have been arguing on this blog, and several others, for a long time that MB90 is the best center midfielder we have by a huge margin. This has been true arguably since the beginning of the last cycle. And it was 100% true during the last WC, and also true when JK took over. Of course now that he is entering his prime, he is also our best field player, and should be the first name penciled into the lineup at all times (I also think he should be captain, but that’s another matter).

I have been following lil’ bradley’s career closely since he first started playing for the Metrostars as an 18 year old (i watched every game that season, and I was amazed at the intelligence and maturity of this kid). That was when the nepotism arguments first arose, and I was one of the most consistent defenders of MB playing, despite his detractors (both on bigsoccer and metrofanatic; it was a constant and absurd debate looking back at it now). The same arguments arose when MB started getting regular playing time with the USMNT, and again MB proved his detractors wrong. In fact this is a constant theme of his career, where he has consistently shown his naysayers to be fools.

While I agree that MB’s career hit a rough patch at that specific moment you are referencing, what you are actually arguing did not tie in with the larger argument that was being posited on a lot of blogs and this one as well (that JK was actually helping out MB by giving him time to adjust, with a larger plan to reintegrate him into the lineup). The argument actually was that MB was not of the quality to start for the USMNT, especially with JK’s new-look tactics (and actually what occurred was that people who had been making the ridiculous nepotism argument saying they were vindicated since JK was neutral, and didn’t play MB).

Of course, as JK has moved away from his original tactical choices (since they failed), and further recalibrated his tactics to suit our best players (and also returning a bit more to the USMNT’s traditional style of play), MB’s importance has grown again back to where it was before JK took over. My point is that MB has again proven what to many people was plainly obvious (and this is not to say that his game hasn’t become more refined since he moved to Italy; it has 100%).

I can only judge JK by what he does on the field, and the squad management. I thought his initial tactical choices were largely wrong, and his moving away from those decisions has proven that point (at the same time I am very impressed by JK’s willingness to learn from his mistakes, and adjust as he went along; that’s a quality that I did not think he had, judging from his tenure at Germany and Bayern). I also personally did not feel he handled the MB90 and Jozy situations well at all, and thought he showed a dramatic lack of foresight in not bloodying a lot of the younger CBs (total joke that Fiscal had so many more looks at CB than Omar). Of course he didn’t have truly catastrophic results from these decisions, thankfully for us as fans.

And this is not to say that this blog isn’t usually correct. I think it’s probably the best soccer analysis on the web, and it’s a go-to read for me. But I personally thought the analysis surrounding those issues was incorrect.

After having taken some time to let the pain die down, I think that this game was not as bad as people made it out to be (generally speaking not any particular post here). We knew Costa Rica was going to come out on fire and really press. We lost Bradley at the last minute which left us very uncertain as the switch from Bradley to Cameron isn’t really like for like (unfortunately there is no like for Bradley on the US team). So we had a team that was flat footed trying to adjust their game plan literally at the last minute. We had a team coming out on fire. We fell down 2-0. Not good but not earth shattering.

From that point on the team played much much better. Yes they gave up a late goal but that was a factor of US chasing. As I watched it I felt it was only a matter of time before the US tied it up.

One has to wonder how different the game was if Bradley rolls his ankle two days before. That way the team has the chance to develop a workable strategy, people have time to work together, understand roles, etc.

Maybe the biggest negative from this game was the seeming absence of on field leadership to make a tactical adjustment in the opening minutes after the first goal. Klinsmann had a few minutes to make adjustments, but sometimes those don’t pan out on field, and you need to adjust in game. I think that lack of quick adjustment, more than anything else, showed Bradley’s absence. IIRC, Omar was guarding that right-side cross on the second goal. Fiscal got back, but didn’t challenge, oddly so, but the damage was done before that. Three CR players on the back post is bad news when your aerial man is out guarding a winger. There will need to be better discipline tomorrow, and a few adjustments.

With all due respect, your logic is flawed based on outcomes that we are watching. Mike did not have anywhere near the level of composure or positional discipline that we see now prior to Klinsis enforced vacation. As mentioned, between club status and his dads recent firing he needed a reboot for his career. To his credit he took that opp and turned himself into a massively stronger player for club and country.